Screenland (May-Oct 1931)

for June 1931 93 eramen in Hollywood is James W o n g Howe, a Chinaman? That Ina Claire's brother, Allan Fagan, is a director? That the "sinful" city of Hollywood has 43 churches, 20 schools, and branches of the Y. M. C. A., Boy Scouts, etc? Norman Kerry is godfather galore to the children of all his servants, past and present. The latest is Norman Kerry Togakawa, son of his Japanese gardener. Evelyn Knapp, who once packed Christmas cards for a living, soars apace in Hollywood. She's a lovely thing and has the prettiest teeth in all filmland. You'll like her in the George and will probably weather any terrors the mike may offer. Anyway, she is coming back. Maurice Chevalier with his arms full of beautiful femininity — blonde Miriam Hopkins and brunette Claudette Colbert. This is a scene from "The Smiling Lieutenant" which is directed by Ernst Lubitsch. When W ill Rogers appeared at the studio driving a small roadster instead of the usual swanky car, he explained that at his house the guy who got up first snatched the best car. That day daughter Mary had swiped Will's regular car, and Mrs. Rogers had annexed the grand one she gave Will for Christmas to trot off to Palm Springs in and so dad just meekly took what was left. Arliss film, "The Millionaire." Irving Thalberg carries snapshots of his baby around and makes everyone admire the little son Norma Shearer presented him with. Talking about cars, Adolphe Menjou used to drive a disreputable old Ford when he was at the top of his glory in silent' films. Later, when things weren't going so well, Adolphe emerged into greater grandeur. Now that he is back, shining triumphantly in talkies, behold the return of the shabby car ! It's something or other in psychology. Louise Brooks returns to the screen in "It Pays to Advertise" and "The Public Enemy." Louise is another girl who felt the talkies had defeated her. Now she hops back into a leading role. Even if Corinne Griffith's voice doesn't seem to register so well, she looked gorgeous in a blue evening gown to match her eyes at a George Archainbaud party. Her spouse, Walter Morosco, is now producing pictures at Columbia. Walter used to sell hotwater heaters, even if papa was a theatrical producer. As Corinne told us when she married him, "They were very good heaters !" After departing from Hollywood when her contract with Paramount was concluded, Pola Negri is being tempted back to American films by RKO. We missed our Pola, she was always good for copy. No one was ever so frank about love affairs, for instance. We knew when it was Charlie, when it was Rod LaRocque, when it was Valentino, when it was Bill Haines, and just what Pola's reactions to these gentlemen's methods of love-making were. When it was Serge Mdvani, however, we were to understand it was forever and ever. He, it seemed, met all the requirements. But now Serge is married to Mary McCormic, since Pola shed him in Paris. Pola has never played in talkies, but she's an intensely capable person When Mary Astor was in the midst of a passionate love scene with Ricardo Cortez, and the cameras were grinding away, a wicked little house-fly alighted on Mary's nose. Of course the entire shot was ruined. Now it transpires that nasty little flies can cost the studios as much as $5000 a day, when they fly into camera range just because of the necessity for re-takes. Ronald Colman is a wonder at card tricks and kept the party amused at the Dick Barthelmess home recently. That and tennis proved the entertainment of the day. Gloria Swanson, in black velvet with a red coatee, and Corinne Griffith in black crepe, were two of the charmers looking completely entrancing. Gloria's latest picture is called "Obey that Impulse." Tony Moreno has only played in Spanish versions since talkies came in, but the fans have been so complimentary that Tony will now play in "The Night Court" for Paramount. Tony married a charming widow, Mrs. Daisy Danziger. several years ago, and so acquired a delightful flapper daughter and a handsome young son right off the bat. Tony is adored by the step-children, who make him do their dares in the swimming pool, help with their Spanish, and dance at their flapper parties. Mrs. Johnny Mack Brown and her father, Judge Foster of Alabama, come to visit Johnny at the studio. Did you know that Maureen O'Sullivan owns a chicken ranch in Dublin?